The Politics Of Massage: Alternative Treatment Or Mainstream Therapy?
I tend to view massage therapy independently of broader categories of therapy, healing or other restorative practices or systems. I am inclined to do this because I am cautious about allowing massage to be classified as a traditional therapy versus an alternative therapy. There are many practitioners who cringe when they see massage therapy lumped in with “alternative†practices such as acupuncture, chiropractic or naturopathic health. To some these smack of quackery, fakery or, in some cases, lunacy. I believe that this aversion to association with alternative medical practices is extreme but I concede that a massage therapy purist could develop such a phobia. On the other hand, more open-minded massage therapists abhor associating massage exclusively with clinical practices such as physical therapy or other forms of rehabilitation. There is some resentment towards the incorporation of massage therapy into traditional medicine only because they feel that massage may be viewed as simply a procedure. This view strikes me as a bit vindictive but given the historical view of the mainstream medical industry towards the alternative medical community, some bitterness can be expected. I would hate to see massage go the way of today’s politics which attempt to label every political view as either liberal or conservative. Massage therapy is neither traditional nor alternative. Frankly, traditional medicine is, in actuality, an “alternative†to massage when viewed in an historical context. The first documented description of massage as a technique or therapy dates back to 3,000 B.C. in China. The Chinese believed that all illness was due to an imbalance of “Qi†within the body. The inequitable distribution of this “life force†or “life energy†was blamed for all ailments and this philosophy was absorbed and incorporated by Japanese Buddhist monks into Japanese massage techniques. This eventually evolved into the unique Japanese massage therapy called Shiatsu or “finger pressure.†At the same time, similar approaches were evolving in India, eventually becoming the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, or the “arts of life,†which also utilized massage as an instrumental healing methodology. Greeks, Romans and even Native Americans highly valued not just the therapeutic, but also the actual healing value of massage. Hippocrates himself is quoted as stating that “anyone wishing to study medicine must master the art of massage.†But with the advent of the industrial age and the development of modern scientific inquiry, massage was relegated to the list of unenlightened, unsophisticated medical practices. In my opinion, however, to dismiss the medicinal and restorative benefits of massage was to dismiss the wisdom of the Ancients. The lack of modern scientific diagnostic techniques and the inability to examine the physical being at the cellular level, forced the earliest physicians to take a macro view of the person since a micro view was unavailable. That macro view and the knowledge garnered through the ages is still the essence of the practice of the ancient art of massage. That is not to say that the more clinical modern approach to massage is without merit. On the contrary, contemporary research has validated many of the formerly unsubstantiated claims of alternative practitioners. Scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of massage in alleviating some depressive symptoms, altering the immune system, controlling pain and reducing stress. As stress is identified as the precipitator of so many medical problems, physicians are less reluctant to recommend massage as part of an overall regime to address certain conditions. So I echo the plea of Rodney King when he asked, “Can’t we all just get along?†Massage does not need the blessing of the medical establishment to claim its place among the healing arts, thank you. Nor is it the exclusive therapeutic domain of the alternative community. I am comfortable with claims that massage can benefit the whole person and I welcome the recognition of the scientific examiners who methodically study the benefits of touch for healing. But I intend to plant myself firmly in the middle and surrender to no particular ideology of massage therapy. I endorse massage for what it does.
Friday, November 30, 2007
A New Perspective on Ancient Systems of Healing
I grew up in India where several systems of healing coexisted and still coexist peacefully side by side. My parents would take us to whichever practitioner they thought was right for whatever ailed us. It was like this great river of healing that was always flowing and you could dip into it as and when you needed. I chose to become a Doctor of Allopathic Medicine because that was the established "scientific" paradigm. Throughout my education and my Residency in Internal Medicine, I studied the "scientific method ". Now, after being in practice for 20 years and having actively studied many other "alternative" systems for the last 15 years, I have come to the realization that many of the alternative systems are equally if not more scientific and sophisticated than the current paradigm.
The problem lies, not in the systems themselves but rather in our understanding of those systems. Even though quantum physics has progressed and is currently in the new paradigm, human thought as well as our current system of medicine is still existing in the nineteenth century. An example is the use of mercury (amalgam) fillings which were first introduced in 1832 and still continue to be used in defiance of all the research that proves that mercury is a known poison that shuts down many of the bodies defenses and has been demonstrated to out vaporize from fillings. Another, is the use of Thimerosal (the mer stands for mercury and how many of you knew that?) As a preservative in eye drops, vaccines etc. The effects of chronic low grade poisons occurs years down the road, so it takes a keen, scientific and open mind to acknowledge the effects. The human mind is a funny thing. It does not believe that anything exists unless it can touch, see or smell it. Yet, we know that electricity exists because we turn a switch and the light comes on. Have you ever watched a pot of water boil? The water molecules begin to move faster and faster until they "disappear". The water has turned into invisible vapor. Similarly, an atom of uranium transforms into an atom of thorium by emitting an alpha particle. To form sodium chloride, an electron from sodium is transferred to the chloride. Quantum physics has proved that the very act of observing changes what is observed. So, you cannot have objectivity in the old way, yet that is what we rely on.
I grew up in India where several systems of healing coexisted and still coexist peacefully side by side. My parents would take us to whichever practitioner they thought was right for whatever ailed us. It was like this great river of healing that was always flowing and you could dip into it as and when you needed. I chose to become a Doctor of Allopathic Medicine because that was the established "scientific" paradigm. Throughout my education and my Residency in Internal Medicine, I studied the "scientific method ". Now, after being in practice for 20 years and having actively studied many other "alternative" systems for the last 15 years, I have come to the realization that many of the alternative systems are equally if not more scientific and sophisticated than the current paradigm.
The problem lies, not in the systems themselves but rather in our understanding of those systems. Even though quantum physics has progressed and is currently in the new paradigm, human thought as well as our current system of medicine is still existing in the nineteenth century. An example is the use of mercury (amalgam) fillings which were first introduced in 1832 and still continue to be used in defiance of all the research that proves that mercury is a known poison that shuts down many of the bodies defenses and has been demonstrated to out vaporize from fillings. Another, is the use of Thimerosal (the mer stands for mercury and how many of you knew that?) As a preservative in eye drops, vaccines etc. The effects of chronic low grade poisons occurs years down the road, so it takes a keen, scientific and open mind to acknowledge the effects. The human mind is a funny thing. It does not believe that anything exists unless it can touch, see or smell it. Yet, we know that electricity exists because we turn a switch and the light comes on. Have you ever watched a pot of water boil? The water molecules begin to move faster and faster until they "disappear". The water has turned into invisible vapor. Similarly, an atom of uranium transforms into an atom of thorium by emitting an alpha particle. To form sodium chloride, an electron from sodium is transferred to the chloride. Quantum physics has proved that the very act of observing changes what is observed. So, you cannot have objectivity in the old way, yet that is what we rely on.
The True Meaning of Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine is a type of therapeutic practice that is not considered to be a part of traditional or conventional medical treatment. People use alternative medicine instead of using traditional medical treatment. This is often because they feel it is a natural way to get better.There are many types of alternative medicine. Some are covered by medical insurance, but most are not. Some forms of alternative medicine that may be covered are chiropractic and osteopathic therapy. These forms of alternative medicine are widely used.There are other forms of alternative medicine that are not as widely used, but are becoming more popular by the minute. These are: massage therapy, therapeutic touch, folk medicine, herbal medicine, special diets, homeopathy, music therapy, aromatherapy, naturopathy, faith healing, and new age healing. There are also some non-western forms of alternative medicine such as: Chinese medicine, gi gong, reiki, and ayarveda.There are some less commonly practiced forms of alternative medicine as well. One is called biofield therapy. This is a form of alternative medicine that works with your so called "energy fields" to heal you. Another is bioelectrical magnetic therapy. This alternative medicine uses pulse and magnetic fields to heal you.Alternative medicine is quite popular for people who are terminally ill. Many AIDS and cancer patients prefer it. An example of this is a cancer patient who uses alternative medicine instead of receiving traditional chemotherapy or radiation therapy. People also use alternative medicine to heal ailments such as back pain or migraines. Instead of traditional painkillers, the patients would use aromatherapy, sound therapy or herbal therapy. Alternative medicine is even used on animals. Have you ever seen the movie "The Horse Whisperer?" That was about a form of alternative medicine used on an animal. Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and others have also been used on animals. The last thing you should know is that there is no scientific evidence that alternative medicine is effective. There have been no scientific studies to prove if they are safe or if they work for the diseases or ailments they are used for. Before using an alternative medicine, talk to your doctor, make sure your doctor feels it is safe and will not harm you.There are many different kinds of alternative medicines to choose from. Now that you understand it a bit better, you can decide if it is right for you. For more information talk to your doctor or research it online. With careful research, you may find one that is right for you.
Alternative medicine is a type of therapeutic practice that is not considered to be a part of traditional or conventional medical treatment. People use alternative medicine instead of using traditional medical treatment. This is often because they feel it is a natural way to get better.There are many types of alternative medicine. Some are covered by medical insurance, but most are not. Some forms of alternative medicine that may be covered are chiropractic and osteopathic therapy. These forms of alternative medicine are widely used.There are other forms of alternative medicine that are not as widely used, but are becoming more popular by the minute. These are: massage therapy, therapeutic touch, folk medicine, herbal medicine, special diets, homeopathy, music therapy, aromatherapy, naturopathy, faith healing, and new age healing. There are also some non-western forms of alternative medicine such as: Chinese medicine, gi gong, reiki, and ayarveda.There are some less commonly practiced forms of alternative medicine as well. One is called biofield therapy. This is a form of alternative medicine that works with your so called "energy fields" to heal you. Another is bioelectrical magnetic therapy. This alternative medicine uses pulse and magnetic fields to heal you.Alternative medicine is quite popular for people who are terminally ill. Many AIDS and cancer patients prefer it. An example of this is a cancer patient who uses alternative medicine instead of receiving traditional chemotherapy or radiation therapy. People also use alternative medicine to heal ailments such as back pain or migraines. Instead of traditional painkillers, the patients would use aromatherapy, sound therapy or herbal therapy. Alternative medicine is even used on animals. Have you ever seen the movie "The Horse Whisperer?" That was about a form of alternative medicine used on an animal. Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and others have also been used on animals. The last thing you should know is that there is no scientific evidence that alternative medicine is effective. There have been no scientific studies to prove if they are safe or if they work for the diseases or ailments they are used for. Before using an alternative medicine, talk to your doctor, make sure your doctor feels it is safe and will not harm you.There are many different kinds of alternative medicines to choose from. Now that you understand it a bit better, you can decide if it is right for you. For more information talk to your doctor or research it online. With careful research, you may find one that is right for you.
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